Two Film Reviews: "P.S I Love You" and "Pride and Prejudice" (Keira Knightly version)

I've decided that I will, from this point on, update my blog every Sunday. I may post extra if I get an urge to but I will make sure I post something every week because I'd hate to be the owner of an inactive blog...or something.


The point of this post is going to films. I'm not a big "film watcher" usually as I find my attention span can't usually stretch to a two hour film. My thoughts either stray to things I'd rather be doing or I feel guilty loosing a large portion of my day when I should be working but in the last month or so I've sat down (in the evening) and watched two DVDs; one which I liked and one which I did not like. Here are two mini- reviews to inform you without spoiling you:


P.S I Love You


"Based on the best-selling novel from Cecelia Ahern, P.S. I Love You is far more than the standard chick flick that it may first appear to be. Relocating the novel from Ireland to America, multiple Oscar-winner Hilary Swank stars as the young woman who has recently lost her husband. And yet amidst her grief, she discovers a series of letters that he’s written to help. These letters give her certain things she has to do, to help her move on with her life." amazon product description


My mum actually bought this DVD for herself and she sat down on a friday night to watch it. She warned me that I probably wouldn't like it as it was "very soppy" and I'm not in to films like that. So, initially, I wasn't going to watch it but I didn't feel like sleeping that night and my parents were eating crisps in front of the TV so I decided to watch the film (mostly so I could eat crisps)...

I loved it. It was a funny, quirky, emotional and life affirming film. Despite the fact that the title makes it sounds clique, it really isn't what you may expect. It was very moving and I am currently trying to get hold of the novel it was based on to compare the two. It's a very sad film but incredibly entertaining and really real. I recommend it to anyone.


Non-spoiling film highlight: The Irish countryside which was beautiful and inspiring. 


Rating: *****


Pride and Prejudice


"One of the greatest love stories of all time, Pride & Prejudice, comes to the screen in a glorious new adaptation starring Keira Knightley. When Elizabeth Bennett (Knightley) meets the handsome Mr. Darcy (Matthew MacFadyen), she believes he is the last man on earth she could ever marry. But as their lives become intertwined in an unexpected adventure, she finds herself captivated by the very person she swore to loathe for all eternity. Based on the beloved masterpiece by Jane Austen, it is the classic tale of love and misunderstanding that sparkles with romance, wit and emotional force. Critics are calling it "Exhilarating. A joy from start to finish" (Carina Chocano, Los Angeles Times)." amazon product description


One of the greatest love stories of all time? Yes. But I really don't feel like this adaption is true enough to the classic novel by Jane Austen. Keira Knightley (Elizabeth)spoke too fast and too quietly so we couldn't hear her, Matthew MacFadyen (Mr Darcy) had no stage presence whatsoever and, overall, it seemed that the film focused more on flashy nature shots, "attractive" visages and trying to rush some of the best scenes in the book to make room for these unnecessary additions. I didn't hate the film but after recently seeing, on DVD, the Pride and Prejudice TV series starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle I was very disappointed with the Keira Knightely version. Of course, I'm speaking from the point of view of a huge fan of the original book and also a firm believer that film interpretations should remain as close to a good book as possible so I'm based towards the TV series. But, seriously, as it was much longer (as it came in episodes)and as a result lot more true to the book and ..the ...acting ...was...soooo much better! Hopefully, I'm going to be posting a separate review on the TV series but for now let me conclude by saying if you are a loyal fan of Pride and Prejudice, the novel then... don't expect to enjoy the Keira Knightely film. 


Non-spoiling film highlight: Mr Bingley, who was hilarious but in all the wrong ways (plus he's funnier in the TV series).


Rating: ** 


So...I've just realised this post is actually very seasonal as both the films I just reviewed are romances and 'm posting this in the week of Valentine's Day! 


Bye everyone, I'll update soon. 

Appreciating Photography and The Beauty of Nature

I sometimes find that when I'm out, walking and I spot something out of the corner of my eye that appeals to me or looks interesting I kind of squint at it, imagining I'm photographing it. Now, in writing this I'm not trying to make out that I'm a photographer and I'm certainly not pretending I have any unusual talent in photography either. But, seriously, the fantastic thing about photographing something is that you don't have to show the full picture. When you're walking home for school or work and a small section of the sky stands out nicely against say a little tree in the distance, providing a little relief from the perhaps otherwise dull scenery, it doesn't look as if it fits. You almost feel as if you have glimpsed something rare, special; a small element of beauty in a very ordinary place. And that's where photography comes in because if you have a camera with you you can take the opportunity to direct the lens, at whichever angle you wish, towards the element of beauty and capture it. Thus, it becomes it's own unique picture as a photograph. A single stolen element from a bigger picture perhaps, but anyone who wasn't present at the capture may imagine freely what surroundings went along with the photograph's focus, which is what makes photographs art.
An idealist looking at a beautiful photograph may assume it was part of a larger landscape of beauty, perhaps in the countryside, likely a place they personally consider idyllic. I find myself guilty of this idealism when it comes to beautiful photographs but I do find myself trying to imagine more than one possible place or even scenario the photograph could belong to. Others may not look so deeply in to a photograph and merely appreciate it more it's physical beauty rather than considering where it came from. I would probably advice these people not to but it depend what inspires you and whether or not your imagination can take you so far.

I believe that carrying a camera around with you is extremely good practice for I regret the many times when I have glimpsed a unique moment of pure incredible beauty and haven't been able to capture it. Of course I can remember the ones I missed that have been recent but, inevitably these memories will fade and I won't be able to share the moment with those who missed it. The comfort is, however that the world provides so many of these unique moments of beauty that we each get to experience at least a few, provided we look and listen out for them. The saddest thing is that the best photographs are ones that nature created and as we watch our world become more and more concrete and human infested, the special moments of natural beauty will become even more scarce and will eventually leave us entirely. Then only photographs, from years and years in the past, will provide future generations with some understanding about the complexity, integrity and beauty of mother nature.

This problem is particularly relevant now due to the fact that the UK's government is looking to sell of Britain's forests; they wish to change the law to allow private companies to chop down the woods. We need to stop them and protect our trees for the conservation of wildlife and the enjoyment of the public. To sign the petition which is nearing half a million people click here! 

Hello And An Extract from my NaNoWriMo Novel

It came as a very pleasant surprise when I visited blogspot the other day and found that a fair few people are following me. Thank you very much, guys, and I hope you continue to enjoy my posts. Now that I have more people reading my blog I also have an incentive to post more so I will try to do so. I have read a few really good books recently which I could post reviews about so if you would be interested in seeing these please comment below and, alternatively, if you would prefer my blog sans book reviews please let me know. 

One thing you may not know about me is that I love to write. And by this I don't mean blog writing, I mean creative writing, as in stories. I've never shared any of my work with the internet before but I feel that today is as good as any other day to release my FIRST little bit of creative writing online. The following is an extract from the first draft of my novel which I wrote during National Novel Writing Month. Any feedback would be great!

It wasn't a proper park, with swings, climbing frames and screaming kids but that was exactly why Mark liked it so much, people irritated him immensely. He watched sullenly as a shabby looking squirrel attempted to position an overlarge conker in to its mouth.  Remarkably, it managed it and proceeded to scurry up a nearby willow tree, wobbling comically under the weight of the conker. Mark could actually see leaves and great droplets of rain water shower from the tree, as the squirrel made its tiny but resolute path of destruction. Hoisting himself to his feet, Mark jogged over to the willow tree and stared in to the greenery, squinting against the shafts of sunlight for a closer look at the scurrying squirrel. He wondered if he stayed perfectly still, the squirrel might not notice him and come closer.  Just as this thought had occurred, a substantial drop of water fell from the disrupted tree on to Mark’s exposed neck. The water trickled in an icy stream all the way down his back and he shivered violently at the shockingly cold water. Annoyed once more, Mark took a step back and began scraping at the frost encrusted earth with his trainer. Stupid rain! he thought savagely and without any real intention launched himself at the tree, kicking and punching at the cold, unresisting bark.  The icy air grated at his hands and face, along with the rough bark and the tree, shaking under the impact, showered Mark with malicious icy droplets.  Ignoring his discomfort, Mark continued to pummel the nearest thing to him, not with anger but that horrible kind of desperation he could never seem to shake off.  

I'm really nervous posting this but I hope you enjoy, regardless. I'm also not entirely sure if that was the best extract to choose from, in terms of quality but I don't know. 

Thanks for reading,

Freya

p.s This is my most recent video